Originally Published by Travel Weekly.
Travel Weekly: Where are the hot new places where people want to book MICE events? And why are these places so popular at the moment?
Amy Merriman: In a national sense, Queensland is the ultimate destination state with gorgeous weather and a relaxed atmosphere that is conducive to productive conferencing. Asia is still one of the preferred overseas destinations for Australian businesses booking conferences, exhibitions and meetings. The short time travel is very attractive, the high level of service and the excellent buying power for the Australian dollar combined with the obvious tourist attractions and shopping make Asia hard to beat. With the recent strengthening of the dollar against the Greenback, Hawaii has emerged as very popular as well. It is not a long flight from Sydney, offers some of the most fantastic hotels with the cultural convenience of English-speaking operators and locals.
TW: What kind of trends have you noticed with MICE events you have organised recently?
AM: Large corporations are substituting more above the line advertising dollars with face-to-face event experiences. By engaging guests on a personal level companies can better market their brands, products and messages. The event industry has seen a trend towards the value of personal engagement with both clients and staff.
Loyalty is important on both fronts. The strong Australian dollar has enabled businesses to inject more funds into meeting both tangible and intangible objectives that are realised through events.
Top Tips – How to get it right on the night
Location – consider the guest experience.
Appearance – consider the first impression.
Staff – consider the face-to-face service experience for your guests.
Food and beverages – consider the sensory experience for your guests.
Floorplan – consider how people are going to get into and circulate within a confined space.
Bathrooms – consider where they are located, how many there are and what they look like.
Kitchen – consider the location of the kitchen and the entry and exit points for the service staff.
Temperature management – too hot or too cold is not pleasant.
Access – consider delivery logistics and be mathematical about your time constraints.
Value and opportunities – what are the value-add opportunities within the venue and how can you make it better or unique for your event?